Paul Bley interviewed by Bill Smith

Jazz writer and musician Bill Smith has not been posting regularly on his blog as he's been devoting his time to a book project over the last couple of years. However, in honour of Paul Bley's having been appointed to the Order of Canada just a few weeks ago Smith has just added his interview with Bley from his archives. Bley is always interesting, articulate, funny, and full of great stories and insights from a remarkable life in music. This interview is no exception. Don't miss it. Paul Bley interview Doug Ramsey response. (Rifftides) Post comments in the Jazz Forum

Neil Ritchie retirement party

Neil Ritchie, producer of CBC Radio One's Hot Air since 1980 has retired. A party celebrating the twenty-eight years he devoted to presenting and recording the best of Vancouver's jazz groups will be held tomorrow (Saturday August 16, 2008) from 7:00pm to midnight at: The Billy Bishop Legion (Upstairs) 1407 Laburnum Street (1 block east of Arbutus, off Cornwall) There will be music by the Miles Black Trio, with special guests. Admission is free, and there's a cash bar. CBC will be recording the music. Post comments in the Jazz Forum

Happy Birthday Jeni LeGon!

Singer and tap dancer Jeni LeGon, who has lived in Vancouver for almost forty years celebrates her 92nd birthday today. Born Jennie Ligon on August 14, 1916 in Chicago, Illinois, at age thirteen she successfully auditioned for the Count Basie Orchestra's chorus line. A year later, LeGon was already a cutting edge professional dancer. In her first screen role, LeGon danced with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson in Hooray for Love, which also featured Fats Waller. Her twenty-four film credits include: Broadway Melody of 1936, This Was Paris, (1937), Start Cheering, Fools for Scandal (1938), I Can't Give You Anything But Love (1940), Birth of the Blues, Sundown, Arabian Nights (1941), While Thousands Cheered, Stormy Weather (1943), Hi De Ho (1945), Easter Parade (1948), I Shot Jesse James (1949) and Somebody Loves Me (1952). Since settling in Vancouver in 1969, Dr LeGon (in 2002, Oklahoma City University conferred upon her a doctorate of performing arts in American Dance) has taught tap dancing to countless children and others. She's still very active and travels to personal appearances with her husband, Frank Clavin. Read Gary Barclay's latest Vancouver Jazz Profile, Jeni LeGon Tapping into history. Watch LeGon perform with Bill Robinson and Fats Waller in a clip from 1935. Post comments in the Jazz Forum

New feature: Gary Barclay's "Vancouver Jazz Profiles"

Gary Barclay has been involved in the Vancouver jazz community for almost forty years. From 1971 to 1985 he hosted Vancouver’s only all-night jazz show on CHQM AM/FM. He’s conducted hundreds of interviews with local and international jazz performers. Among his current activities is a regular column in VLM: Vancouver's Lifestyle Magazine featuring profiles of local musicians. We're pleased to present an archive of jazz-related profiles from his “On the Town” column. The first one, on Oliver Gannon, appears here. Post comments in the Jazz Forum

Johnny Griffin R.I.P.

I like to play fast. I get excited, and I have to sort of control myself, restrain myself. But when the rhythm section gets cooking, I want to explode. – Johnny Griffin The couple of times I heard tenor saxophonist Johhny Griffin in live performance were without question among the most exciting musical experiences of my life. The guy liked to play fast. Ralph J. Gleason wrote, Unquestionably Johnny Griffin can play the tenor saxophone faster, literally, than anyone else alive. At least he can claim this until it's demonstrated otherwise. And in the course of playing with this incredible speed, he also manages to blow longer without refueling than you would ordinarily consider possible. With this equipment he is able to play almost all there could possibly be played in any give chorus. It wasn't just showing off. Every note he played was perfect; steeped in pure jazz and blues soul. You could tell he loved every moment he was on the bandstand and the joy was infectious. At the end of the night he was drenched in sweat but absolutely beaming with delight. Griffin died today, at his home in Mauprevoir, a village in the west-central La Vienne district, where he had spent the last 18 years of his life. The cause of death was not disclosed. He was 80 years old. Johnny Griffin at Wikipedia Johnny Griffin discography Post comments in the Jazz Forum

Alita Dupray, live and on demand

Vocalist Alita Dupray is one of Vancouver's best-kept secrets. (I've never really understood what that phrase means, but . . . well, there you have it.) She's got a beautiful, rich voice that delivers swinging and emotionally charged lyrics with a maturity that belies her tender years. She's a "secret" because her rare appearances have, for the most part, been in lounges and restaurants around town, although she has performed at the Jazz Cellar and several times at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Plus, she has yet to release an album. This last fact is at least temporarily compensated by the CBC's having posted an entire set from her concert at Studio One as part of the jazz festival this past June. Go to Concerts On Demand: Alita Dupray to listen. You can also check her out live this weekend. Alita's trio with James Forrest on bass and Bruno Hubert, piano, play O'Doul's starting tonight (July 24) through to Saturday. O'Doul's is located at 1300 Robson, corner of Jervis in Vancouver's West End. Music starts at 9PM and goes till midnight. Post comments in the Jazz Forum

Tom Keenlyside talks with Hubert Laws

When Hubert Laws, master of the flute in both jazz and classical idioms, appeared with Chick Corea at Jazz Alley in Seattle last winter, Tom Keenleyside took the opportunity to record a conversation with one of his musical idols. Vancouver's Keenleyside is a saxophonist and flautist of great distinction in his own right. Read the interview. Post comments in the Jazz Forum